Lens-cutting machine



E. M. I,ONG

LENS CUTT/I'NG MACHINE Filed March 14, 1923 \NV 6. m,

4 Sheets-Sheet NTOR Q a? Y ATTGRNEY LONG July 10, 1928, 4 E. M.

LENS CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1925 4'Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESS A'f-roRY.

nmma i July 10, 1928.

L676566 E. M. LONG v LENS CUTTING MACHINE Filed March 14, 1923 I 4 She ets-Sheet 3 OV 39 DROP WH'NESS Wi x.

I NV NTOR z ws @Mm ATTORNEY.

July 10, 1928.

E. M. LONG mus cumue MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 14, 1923 g Ev 'ATTORNEY Patented July it), 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,67%,566 PATENT ELI MAYNARD LONG, OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY .MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T SI-IUR-ON STANDARD OPTICAL COMPANY, INC., OF GENEVA, NEW YORK, A C1613 PORATION OF NEW YORK.

LENS QUTTING MACHINE.

Application filed March 14, 1923.

This invention relates to a machine for cutting lenses and analogous work in which the work is supported upon a suitable table and engaged by a cutting tool, the movements of which are controlled by a pattern member and the cutting is effected by the simultaneous rotation of the work holder and pattern.

The lenses to be cut vary materially in form or contour and size, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a pattern member or former with zones of different standardized contours adapted to co operate with a suitable zone engaging memher whereby the adjustment of one of said members lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the pattern member will cause the cutting of the lens to a form corresponding to that of the particular zone engaged by the zone engaging member or rider.

Another objectis to merge the several zones in unbroken continuity so that the relative adjustment may be made without disengaging the members.

A further object is to provide a scale cooperating with the adjusting means'to determine the exact position of any particular zone with referenceto the zone engaging member and incidentally, to pre-determ'ine the form of the lens to be out.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the cutting tool may be automatically adjusted to conform to curves of different radii during the cutting operation so that the tool may always present its best cutting edge or point substantially tangential to the contour of different portions of the lens operated upon.

Another object is to provide'convenient means for adjusting the tool holder for varying the diameter of the work.

Other objects and uses relating to specific parts of the machine will be brought out in the following description:

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan of a lens cutting machine embodying the various features of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the same machine partly in section to show the manner of mounting and adjusting the rotary work support.

Figure 3 isaside elevation, partly in section, of the same machine.

Serial No. 624,935.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4+4, Figure 3.

Figures 521ml 6 are enlarged detail sec-- tional views taken respectively on lines 5-:3 and (3-6, Figure 3.

Figures 7 and 8 are vertical sectional views taken respectively on lines 77 and. 8-8, Figure 1.

Figures 9, 10, and 11 are respectively a top plan, a side elevation and an inverted plan of the detached pattern member.

Figure 12, is an enlarged horizontal sectional view approximately in the plane of line 12l2, Figure 2, except that t-he'mechanism for transmitting motion from the pat tern member to the cutting tool is shown in top plan and that a portion of the pres sure device for pressing the lens against the work holder is shown in section.

Figures 13, 14 and 15 are detail. sectional views taken respectively onlines 13-13, 14-14 and 1515, Figure 12.

As illustrated, this machine comprises a main supporting frame 1- consisting of a hollow base -2-and hollow upright standard 3' rising therefrom and opening thereinto at the bottom for receiving and supporting the various cooperative mechanisms presently described.

lVork support.

An upright shaft --fl is journaled in suitable bearings 5 and 6- in the basev 2- and is provided at its upper end with a work supporting table 7 which. together with the shaft is movable vertically toward and from the tool holder to press the work against the tool as may be required to cut the lens to the desired form while the work table with the work thereon is being rotated relatively to the tool.

The means for rotating the work support comprises an upright drive shaft -8 journaled in a suitable bearing -9- in the base with a hand crank -10- and its lower end provided with a pinion 1lmeshing with 2 and having its upper end provided videdwith a'suitable shoulder for holding the gear -12 against downward displacemen The face width of the gear 12 issomewhat greater than thatof-the gear 1 t meshing therewith to permit the gear ---l4land its work supporting shaft -4lto be moved vertically in a manner presentl de scribed for pressing the work against the tool.

The means for efi'ecting this vertical. adjustment of the work holder consists of a handlever --'extcnding through an opening -46 in one side of the base 2 and fulcrumed or pivoted at '17- to said basetopcrniit the lever to swing vertically, the inner end of said lever being extended under the lower end. of the gear 1 and is 'lll'O'VlLlOfl with a roller -l.8' for engaging thenndersideof said gearwhile the outer end of the lever is provided with ahand piece -l9 by which it may be depressed to raise the work holdertoward the tool, said gear l4 being secured to the shaft -lby a set screw 'to impart rotary motion thereto as the gears revolvc,it being understood, that the work holder, including the gear 14will return to its normal position by its own weight when pressure upon 3 the hand piece 19- is released, thereby restoring the leverto its normal position.

A rotary former or pattern member.

An additional upright shaft 2l is supported at its lower and upper ends in suitable bearings -2Q- and -23 in the main frame 1 for receiving andsupporting a'lenspattern or former 24 and a gear -25 secured together end to end co-axially to rotate together andto move axially along said shaft.

The lens pattern or former -2-ttis preferably composed of lower and uppersections -27- and 28- integrally or otherwise secured together 'endto end and the lower section secured to the upper end of the hub of the gear '25,- by bolts -3O Figure 7.

The intermediate'portion of the pattern 24-- is circular and. constitutes what may be termed a circular zone, the remaining portions of the upper section 28- being elliptical and gradually merging in unbroken continuity with the circular zone whilethe remaining portions of thelower section are somewhat irregular or of the drop eye form, thereby constituting zones "of diferent contourswhich merge with each other and with the intermediate circularzone in unbroken continuity to produce lenses of corresponding forms according to the position ofthe, pattern as a whole relatively to themechanism by which motion is transmitted from the former to the lens cutting tool as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As shown in Figures 7 to 11 inclusive, the upper section -28 tapers from the circular zone towards the upper end at one diameter and flares laterally at another diameter at right/angles to the first'nameddiameter for the purpose ofproducing elliptical lenses of gradually varying diameters from the circular zone to the extreme elliptical zone at the upper end of the former.

The lower section -27 flares down.- wardly from the opposite ends of one diameter oi the circular zone corresponding to the long diameter of the elliptical zones and tapers downwardly at one end of another diameter at right angles to the first named diameter thereby producing a series of zones of somewhat irregular contour which may be termed drop zones for producing what is commonly known as drop lenses as shown more clearly in Figure 11, in which one radius is shorter thanthe remaining radii.

The gear +253" meshes with and is rotatcd by the gear 12 and is provided with an annular groove -*2G- for receivinga shifting block 31* which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 32- on end end of a bell crank lever 33-, the latter being 'pivotally mounted at 34.- on the base 2 and has its other arm extended upwardly through an opening 1n sald frame "and movable along a graduated bracket 35- for shifting the gear QS and pat-- tern member 24 vertically in opposite di rections along the shaft -2l--.

The bracket is rigidly secured to the rear side of the upper portion of the column -3- and is provided with a row of graduations 36 and a corresponding row of apertures -37- both rows being concentric with the axis of the pivo 34-.- and along whichthe adjacent end of the lever is adapted to move.

The upper end of the lever -'83' is provided with a hollow hub 3S-'for receiving a stop pin 39 which extends entirely through the hub 38- and has one end pointed and urged by a coil spring -l0 into any one of the apertures 37 with which it may be registered, the other end of said stop pin being provided with a hand piece -4l by which it may be withdrawn from the apertures 37 againstthe action of the spring tO- when it is de sired to shift the lever along the scale 36 or from one aperture to another, saidlever -33 and scale -36 or apertures -37 constituting an indexing device for registering the various pattern zones with the contact member -59-.

These apertures are numbered consecutively in opposite directions from a zero point 41-2 along the scale 36 to indicate the different zones of the former -9A-, the zero graduations indicating the circular zone while the graduations at the left of the zero point, Figure 7, indicate the various the tool operatin elliptical zones of the upper pattern section 28 and those at the right of the zero point indicate the \lifferent Zones of the lower section -27 so that when the lever is adjusted to register with the zero point l2, the circular zone of the pattern member 2 lwill be registered with means presently de scribed, or when adjusted to register with any one of the apertures at the left of the zero position, will cause a corresponding elliptical part of the pattern member to be registered. with said tool operating mecha-- nism.

On the other hand, when shifted to regster with anyone of the apertures at the right of the Zero position, will cause the corresponding portion of the lower section -27 of the pattern member, to register with the same actuating mechanism.

These various adjustments of the ev S3 and incidental axial adjustment of the patternanember, causes the lens on the revolving work table to be cut to a form corresponding to the particular zone of the pattern member which may be registered with the tool operating means.

Tool operating means.

The frame 1 is provided with parallel horizontal guldeways ld" and -4=5 ar- "ranged side by side as shown in Figure 1,

in a plane above the work support 7 and between said work support and the pattern member 24tat substantially right angles to the axis thereof for receiving a sliding carrier -a6 and a plunger %7,

The carrier et6 is movable endwise in the guideway el .t and extends beyond till. opposite ends thereof, one end being provided with a reduced left hand thread '-.t8 engaged by a handnut '-l9 which also onthe outer end face of the guidcway .d4. I

A vertical spindle 50- is mounted for longitudinal adjustment in a guide opening: in the opposite end of the carrier --it5 and is held in its adjusted position by a set screw 52, F igure 13.

The lower and upper ends of this spindle 50 are'provided with tapered journals for receiving and supporting a lever of the first kind.

That is, the lever 53 is provided with a central opening Figure 3, and the portion thereof at the lower side of the opening is provided with a tapered bearing '55 for receiving the adjacent end. of the spindle 50 while the upper portion ot the lever provided with a screw bearing 56- for ei'igagi'ng the upper end of the spindle, said screw bearing being adjustabl in a threaded opening in the upper part of the lever to take up wear and is held in its adjusted position by a lock nut 'T, ure 13.

The vertical height of the opening is somewhat greater than the corresponding height of the adjacent portion of the arrier -46 to enable the lever 53 and all parts carried thereby to be adjusted vertically relatively to the pattern member 24l and its supporting shaft 2tin order that the contact member carried by said lever may engage the periphery of the pattern member at a certain zone when the lever set to the graduation on the scale -8G corresponding to that Zone, the lever and its supporting spindle being held in their adjusted position by the set screw 5;, Figure 13.

The carrier l(3 for the lever 53 is disposed approximately midway between the axes of the work holder 7- and pattern member 24 while the lever 53 extends in opposite directions from the spindle 50 substantially the same distances as the distance between said spindle and the axes of the work holder and pattern member which axes are disposed respectively at the front and at the rear of the corre sponding ends of the lever so that the contact member on the lever engages the front face of the former while the opposite end of the lever carrying the tool traverses the face of the work holder at the rear side of the axes of the latter.

The end of the lever 58 adjacent the pattern member 2l is preferably bifurcated to form a lengthwise slot :38 for receiving a rider 59 which is pivoted at 60- to the opposite arms of the lever to swing about a vertical axis parallel with that of the spindle 50 and is provided with a pair of rollers 6l at. opposite sides of its pivot 60 for engaging the periphery or perimeter of the pattern member -2at at different points about the axis thereof.

The opposite end of the lever is also bifurcated and has its opposite arms provided with journaled bearings (52 and 63 for receiving and supporting a relatively rotatable tool holder 6i carrying a cutting tool as 65, Figure 11-.

The tool holder 64 preferably consists of an upper section -GG-and a lower section -67 having a tapered stem which is tightly fitted in a corresponding socket in the lower end of the section 66 and supports an additional section t38 in which the tool (35- is secured by a set screw -69.

The section 68- mounted upon the lower end of the section 67 to turn about a ll( izontal axi andfor this purpose is mounted in a rec TO- in one side of the section 6 and is provided with a circular rib 71- riding in a corresponding circular groove 72 in the back wall. of

ltlt) tion -67 byone or more screws #747,

. to 3a.

Figure 15.

The front side of the section tS8- is provided with a roller bearing -i5 adapted to bear upon the work on the worktable 7 when the cutter is in operative engagen'ient with said work.

The tool supporting section -68 is yieldingly held in a tilted position with its hearing roller 75 in substantiallythe hori zontal plane oil the cutter -G5' by means of a light coil spring -7(3 which is passed i'l1l.'0l1; {ll an opening -77 in the section 6. and has one end connected to the front side ol the section -67- and the. other end to the set screw 69.

The object o'l this hearing roller -75-- is ist in pressing the work againstthe holder -T- and to protect the diamond cutting point at agai-nstiimdue pressure upon said work.

It is now clear that therider -59-- and work holder Get are both tree to turn upon the COIIGSPOIltllDg' ends of the lever 53- relatively thereto, and that the two point contactof the rider BS- against the elliptical orirregular zones of the pattern member 2 l will produce-a slight rocking movement of said rider about its pivot -60 as the rollers 61 engage points in said. zones. at different distances from the axis of the pattern member and in order that the cutter -G5 may be kept in proper cutting relation to the work, it is desirable to transmit the independent rocking motion of the rider 59- to said cutter and for this purpose both therider and the tool holder are provided with forward extensions -59- and (i4'* which are pivotally connected to each other by a link 78 shown in Figure 12, at the trout side of the lever so as to move treelyfwithout friction therewith.

The plunger i7 is spring pressed endwise by a coil spring -4i5 against a portion of the lever 53- between the tool supporting member 64 and spindle 50 and thereby, serves to yieldingly hold the rider 59 in contact with the periphery or perimeter of the pattern member ,2 lin all positions of adjustment of the latter as well as in all positions of adjustment of the carrier i6- and lever carried thereby.

The guideway ilfor the carrier et6- is provided with a removable top or cap section -4c i- (Figure 8) which is held in operative position by screws 46* so that byremoving the screws and cap the carrier -fl6 together with the lever -53-, and parts carried thereby maybe removed and replaced as a unit.

The nut -i9 servesvas a means for adjusting the carrier -46 endwise and thereby moving the cutting tool to different distances from the axis of the tool holder for cutting lenses of dillerent diameters while the rider -59- may be engaged with any one of the several zones of the pattern member, said nut being provided with a circumferentially graduated. ring 79, secured thereto by a set screw 80 and adapted to register with a fixed mark 8l- (Figs. It and 2) on the adjacentend ofthe cap plate l4i to indicate the ditlercnt radii to which the lenses may be cut.

A pressure arm -90 is pivotally mounted upon a block -91 which in turn is secured to the upper side of the base -2 by means of a clamping screw 92, (Figure 5 and (3), one end of the levcr being spring pressed upwardly by a plunger -S)3 and a coil spring -93' while the other end of the arm --9()- is stnnewhat longer and spring pressed dowmvardly toward the worktable -7 and is provided witha roller -94t adapted to engage the upper face of the work to hold the latter in place as the work table with the work thereon isrotated.

Operation.

The form ot the lens to be cut is determined by adjusting the lever 33 into registration with a certain graduation or aperture on the scale 36 and then adjusting. the carrier 46 by means of the screw 4l 9 to the desired position for cutting the lens to the required diameter ,or radius whereupon thelens or other work to be cut is placed upon the work holder 7- and the latter raised by means of the lever ,15- to engage the work with the pressure rollers --94 and -'4'5 and the cutter whereupon the work holder 'T and pattern member -24 may be simultaneously rotated by means of the hand crank 10- and gear train previously described. c

For example, when the lever 33 is set to the zero position along the scale -36, the pattern member -24 will be adjusted to a position which will register its circular zone with the rider 59- or by adjusting the lever -33 to the left of the zero, position, will cause a corresponding downward movement of the pattern member -2 l to register one or the other of the elliptical zones with said rider.

On the other hand, by adjusting the lever -33 to the right of the zero position, Figure 2,will cause a corresponding upward movement of the pattern member -2at to register one or the other of the dropdzones of the lower section -2 7 with the rider 59, it being understood that when the pattern member 24 is adjusted to register any one of its particular zones with the rider 59 and the work table and cutting tool are brought into cutting relation and the work table with the work thereon and pattern member .-2lare rotated by the means provided therefor, the lens will be cut to a form corresponding to that of the zone engaged by the rider 59.

It will also be evident that any rocking motion imparted to the rider -5) relatively to the lever 53 by the engagement of said rider with portions of the zone of diflerent radii, will cause a similar rocking movement of the tool holder to keep the tool in proper cutting position relatively to the work.

' It is evident, changes however, that various may be made in the detail construction of the various parts of, the machine without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore, I do not wish to limit myself to the precise construction shownand described.

I claim:

1. In a lens-cutting machine, a rotary work-holdmr, a pattern rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the workholder and provided with a plurality of zones arranged in sequence axially and having their surfaces gradually merging one with the other, means for rotating the workholder and pattern in unison, a cutter movable relatively to the work holder, patterncontrolled means including a contactmemher for moving the cutter, and an indexing device operable at will for moving the pattern axially to register any one of its zones with the contact member.

2. In a lens cutting machine, a rotary work-holder, a rotary pattern, a lever supported between the work-holder and pattern, an oscillatory tool-holder pivoted on the lever and adapted to carry a tool to bear on work on the work-holder, an oscillatory rider also pivoted on the lever and having two points of contact with the pattern, and a link connected to said tool-holder and to said rider at one side of the axis of oscillation of each.

3. In a machine for cutting lenses and analogous work, a rotary work-holder, a tool-holder and'means for moving the toolholder transversely of the work-holder including a rotary pattern member having zones f difierent curvatures in different planes at right angles toits axis of rotation merging with unbroken continuity, a zone-engaging member, means for rotating the work-holder and pattern in unison, and an indexing device operable at will for moving one of said members axially to register any one of said zones with the zoneengaging member.

4. In a machine for cutting. lenses and analogous work, a rotary work-holder, a tool-holder, a pattern member rotatable about an axis parallel with and some distance to one side of the axis of the workholder and having zones of difi'erent curvatures arranged in sequence lengthwise of the axis of rotation of the pattern, and means actuated by said pattern member for moving the tool holder transversely of the axis of the work holder, said pattern member being adjustable axially to present different zones to the actuated means, the axis of the pattern being co-incident with the axis of rotation in all positions of adjustment.

5. In a lens-cutting machine, a rotary work-holder, a rotary pattern in offset relation to and with its axis parallel with that of the work-holder, means for rotating the work-holder and pattern in unison, a lever of the first kind, a contact member pivoted to one end of the lever and having two points of contact with the pattern at opposite sides of its pivot, a tool-holder pivoted to the other arm of the lever and provided with a cutter for engaging the lens, and a link connecting the contact member and toolholder at one side of their respective pivots.

(5. In a machine for cutting lenses, a rotary work-holder, a pattern rotatable about an axis some distance to one side of and parallel with that of the work-holder, a sliding carrier movable transversely of and between the axes of the work-holder and pattern, means for adjusting said carrier endwise, means for rotating the work-holder and pattern in unison, a contact member engaging the periphery of the pattern, a toolholder having a cutting-tool for engaging the lens, and means mounted on the carrier for supporting the contact member and the tool holder. 1

7. In a machine for cutting lenses, 2. rotary work-holder, a pattern rotatable about an axis some distance to one side of and parallel with that of the work-holder, a sliding carrier movable transversely of and between the axes of the work-holder and pattern, means for adjusting said carrier endwise, means for rotating the work-holder and pattern in unison, a contact member engagingthe periphery of the pattern, a toolholder having a cutting-tool for engaging thelens, and meansmounted on the carrier for supporting the contact member and the tool holder, said means being adjustable lengthwise of the axes of the work-holder and pattern for effecting a corresponding adjustment oi the contact member and toolholder.

8. In a lensutting machine, a rotary lensholder, a pattern rotatable about an axis parallel with and some distance to one side of the axis of the lens-holder, and provided with a plurality of distinctive zones arranged in sequence axially, a. tool-holder having a cutting tool for engaging the lens, a support for the tool-holder movable about an axis parallel with the axis of the lensholder, a contact member mounted on said support for engaging any one of said zones, and an inde ig'ing devi'e' e for adjusting the pattern axially to register the different zones with the contact member. t

, 9. In alens-eutting machine, a rotary lensholder, a pattern rotatable about an axis parallel with and some distance to one side of the axis of the le1is-holder and provided With a plurality of distinctive zones arranged in sequence axiallv thereof means for rotating the lens-holder and pattern in unison, a lover, a sliding carriage for the lever a contact member mounted on the lever tor-engaging any one Oit' said; zones, a

' tool-holder mounted on the lever and provided with a cutting'tool for engagingfihe lens means including a hand. lever for shittingthe pattern axially to present its different zones to the contact member and means for holding the handlever in difl'erent positions'ol? adjustment. V

10. Ina machine for cutting lcnses and analog'rous work, a rotary work-supperting mon'iber, a pattern member rotatable about an axis parallel with and seine distance to one side olthe axisof the \vorleholdcr and ha'vi'ng zones of different contours, means for rotating the work-supporting member itl'ltl pattern in unisoh, a lever," means pivotally mounting saidleyer, a rider on the lever engaging the pattern member, a tool holder on the lever for engaging the tool with the work, and means tor -adjusting the pattern member to present diflerent zones to'therider.

11. In a machine for cutting lenses and analogous Work, a rotary Work-supporting member a pattern member rotatable about parallel With and some distance to one SlClQ' o;t' ,the Work-holder and having zones different contours, means for rotating the work-supporting member and pattern in unisom a lever, means pivotally mounting said lever, a rider pivotally mounted upon the lever and" engaging the pattern member, a tool-holder journaled on the lever for" relative rocking movement for engaging-the tool with the Work; means for i, I ad rustmg the pattern member to present dii ereiit zones. to the rider, and a link pivotall connected to the rider and to the tool ho der at one side of their respective axes of movement.

12. A machine for cutting lenses and analogous work in claim 2 in which the rider and the tool holder are pivoted to the lever to turn relatively thereto and are connected by a link at" one side of theirturning axes.

13. A machine for cutting lenses and analogous Work as in claim" 2 in which means is provided for adjusting th" 'oolsupporting end of the lever transversely of the axis of the Work-supporti'ng'member;

In a machine for cutting len'ses and analogous Work, a rotary Work-supporting member, a rotary patter-n member; means 7 for simultaneously rotating said members, a carrier adjustable transversely of the 0t rotation of the Work holder, a' leve'r'pivotally mounted on the carrier to rock about an axis parallel with that ofthe ptterii member, a rider; pivoted on the lever for engaging" the pattern member, a tool-holder also pivoted on the lever adjacent the ivorltsupporting member, and means for adjusting' said carrier. y

1'5, Ina machine for cutting lenses and an logou's work, a rotary Worknet'i'ppo'rtin; member, a rotary pattern member, means for simultaneously iiftati'li}; said mei'i'ibers', a carrier adjustabl tranm e'rsely: of tlie axis of rotation ot the Work holder, a lever pivotally liiOLtlltGd on the Carrier to rock about an axis parallel With that oi the pattern member, a ,rider pivoted on the lever for engaging the pattern member, a tool-holder also pivoted on the lever adjacent the work-supportingmember, means for adj usting said carrier, said; rider and tool'- holder beingturnable ,upon the lever, and a linkconnecti ng said rider to the tool holder to cause those parts to turn in unison;

In Witness whereof- I ,lra\ e hereunto set my hand this 28th day of February, 1 923. M L]: MAYNARD LONG. 

